Navjot Sidhu objects to his ‘poor’ rating by Punjab government

Chandigarh, Jan 14 (IANS) Cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu Wednesday objected to the Punjab government because his performance as an MP from Amritsar has been rated as “poor” by the state’s planning department. He called the description “either a mistake or mischief” to tarnish his image.The report, prepared by the MP local area development scheme (MPLADS) section of the state government’s department of planning, deals with money spent by MPs on development works in their Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab over five years.

In a communication to Punjab’s chief secretary Wednesday, Sidhu has sought details of the episode to know whether his “poor” rating was a mistake or a mischief to tarnish his image. He has said that he would take up the issue in the parliament.

“It is very sad and ironic that the letter…was actually showing a report card of the MP as judged by a joint director prior to the meeting. My performance of 100 percent has been belittled to zero,” an annoyed Sidhu said.

The Amritsar MP quoted from the letter of the Amritsar deputy commissioner to the secretary-planning stating that he (Sidhu) had spent Rs.95.6 million (Rs.9.56 crore) against the Rs.90 million released to him.

Sidhu said that he was one of the MPs who had utilised the maximum amount of MPLADS funds for his constituency. He sought that the “poor” remarks against his name be re-assessed.

“It seems that the whole exercise has been manipulated to malign my position in the eyes of my respected and esteemed electorates and also in the minds of my party hierarchy and cadre. I would like you to go into the details of this episode and find out whether it was a mistake or mischief to systematically tarnish my image through media. Action taken may be forwarded to me within a week’s time so that I can take up the matter in parliament,” Sidhu said in his letter.